Rudder-locking mechanism



No. 626,370. Patented lune6, I899. G. H. DOYLE, 1R. RUDDER LOCKING MECHANISM.

(Applies-mm filed Jan. 18, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheeta-Shaet I.

No. 626,370. Patented June 6, I899. G. H. DOYLE, 1R. BUDDER LOCKING MECHANISM.

I (Application filed Jan. 13, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2K UNlIFD STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE II. DOYLE, JR., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RUDDER-LOCKING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,370, dated June 6, 1899.

Application filed January 13, 1899. Serial No. 702,082. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DOYLE, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rudder-Locking Meeham ism, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, and convenient mechanism for locking or unlocking the rudder of a ferryboat from the pilot-house of said boat.

It is customary in the navigation of a ferryboat to look the rudder in its central position as the boat enters the slip. Heretofore this has been done at either end of the boat by means of a bolt projecting upward through the ferry-boat deck and manipulated by hand from the deck at a distance from the pilothouse nearly the length of the boat, so that the locking or unlocking of the rudder could not be accomplished from the pilot-house, but was necessarily done by one of the deck-hands detailed for the purpose, and the pilot when he desired to have the rudder locked or unlocked was obliged to depend upon this crude and inconvenient means.

My invention renders it possible to lock or unlock the rudder from the pilot-house instantaneously, so that the rudder is at all times under the control of the pilot.

In the old manner of locking the rudder, as herein described, the bolt passing through the deck necessitated constant care and watching during cold weather to keep water from freezing around the locking-bolt and rendering it inoperative. The usual method of preventing the formation of ice around the locking-bolt consists of a jet of steam which is kept constantly playing upon the said locking-bolt at a great expense and loss of heat and also at times through the steam leaking upward around the bolt and out upon the upper surface of the deck being the means of frightening horses upon the ferry-boat and causing accidents. Again, it has often happened that the locking-bolt in ordinary use, with the ring attached thereto, as hereinafter described, projecting above the deck, would be the cause of accident and injury to horses by means of catching in the calk of the horses shoe and breaking the animals leg. My improved device being entirely beneath the deck and protected from water, snow, or ice overcomes these difficulties.

My invention consists in mechanism for op erating the rudder-locking bolt of a ferryboat.

111 the drawings like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation in detail, taken longitudinally through the center of a ferry-boat and illustrating my improved rudder-locking mechanism attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rudder-locking bolt and the mechanism for raising and lowering the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the old method of locking the rudder.

In the drawings, 1 is the rudder, pivoted at 2 to the hull of a boat in an old and wellknown manner. A yoke 3 is bolted to the rudder 1 to receive the locking-bolt 4. In the old form, Fig. 4:, the locking-bolt 4 projected upwardly through ahole in the deck 5 and was raised or lowered by hand by means of the halfring 6. It is evident that when the bolt 4 is lowered into the hole in the yoke 3 the rudder will be locked to the hull by said lockingbolt and cannot turn upon its pivotal center 2, and vice versa. lVhen said locking-bolt is raised out of connection with the yoke 3, the rudder 1 Will be free to turn upon the center 2 by means of the rudder-ropes 7 7, all as well known to those skilled in the art.

In my improved device the locking-bolt 4 slides in a hole Sin the casting 9. Said casting 9 is bolted to the under side of the deck 5 by lag-screws passing through the flange 10 on said casting.

A lever 11 is pivoted at 12 to a swinging link 13,, pivoted at 14 to the casting 9. The lever 11 is connected to the upper end of the locking-bolt 4 by a link 15, and to the other end of said lever isattached a wire rope 16 by means of a swivel-link.17. Said wire rope passes around a guide-pulley 18,which turns upon a bolt 19 between cars 20 on the casting 9, thence to another guide-pulley 21, supported upon a plate fast to the under side of the deck 5, and thence upward through the deck and into the pilot-house,where it is connected to a pull-slide 22, which slides in a guideplate 23 and is provided with a handle 24, by means of which it is raised or lowered by the pilot when desired. To the slide 22 is fastened a pin 25, which is guided by a groove 26 in the guide-plate 23 and is held in its raised position (the locking-bolt 4 at that time being drawn up) by the horizontal portion 27 ofv said slot. In Fig. 1 the locking-bolt 4 is represented as lowered, and in Fig. 3 it is shown in full lines raised and in dotted lines lowered. The locking-bolt in my improved form is surrounded by a casing 28, provided with a slot 29 to admit the lever 11 and link 12 to move up or down.

In the drawings I have illustrated my improved mechanism as attached to a side-wheel ferry-boat, and the locking-bolt when down enters a yoke 3, directly connected to the rudder 1. In a propeller the locking-bolt would enter a yoke attached to the tiller inside the hull; but in all other respects the mechanism would be substantially the same as in the form illustrated. a

It is evident that the mechanism by which the locking-bolt 4 is raised, consisting of the lever 11 and links 13 and 15, may be varied Without departing from the spirit of my invention; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A rudder-locking bolt 4, adapted to slide in a guide-block 9, a lever 11, pivotally connected to said guide-block by a link 13 and to said locking-bolt by a link 15 in combination with a yoke 3, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. A rudder-locking bolt 4:, adapted to slide in aguide-block 9, a lever 11 pivotally eonneeted to said guide-block by a-link 13, and to said locking-bolt by a link 15, a rope 16, one end ofwhieh is attached to the lever 11, the other end of said rope being carried to any point from which it may be desired to operate said lever, in combination with a yoke 3, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

3. A rudder-locking bolt 4, adapted to slide in a guide-block 9, a lever 11, pivotally connected to said guide-block by a link 13 and to said locking-bolt by a link 15, a rope 16,

one end of which is attached to the lever 11,

the other end to a pull-slide 22, and means for locking said pull-slide, in combination with a yoke 3, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

" GEORGE H. DOYLE, JR.

Witnesses: I

CHARLES S. GOODING, HARRY M. Rose. 

